Bills halt contract negotiations with Cook

[Matt_In_NH]

2 hours ago, Homey D. Clown said:

How about an NFL rule change that states very clearly that if you hold out you get exactly $0.00 until you show up, and IF... you don't play 4 games or more, you're entire salary is suspended.  As a player you SIGNED the existing contract.  You AGREED to the terms.  The team should not have to be held hostage every time a player feels underpaid AS A MILLIONAIRE.

 

This ^^^^   is what's killing my love for the game today.

I understand your sentiment but I don't agree. That would be a sucky rule the NFL PA will not agree to.  It goes both ways....when a player over performs or underperforms his contract changes can be made....and are made  The team can tell the player to pound sand if he wants a raise and the team can waive the guy if he is underperforming.

[DrDawkinstein]

What has Cook held out from? Did OTAs start?

[BuffaloBill]

36 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

What has Cook held out from? Did OTAs start?

 

Stop bringing facts to a great speculative, pseudo-controversial topic.

[jethro_tull]

Cook swears too much. 

[oldmanfan]

1 hour ago, Einstein's Dog said:

For me, it's not the social media post as much as it is the substance of the post, the $15M.  It gave a clue into difficult negotiations and not surprisingly Cook is the last to be extended.  You can keep claiming it means nothing (just as many dismissed Diggs social media as "kids will be kids").

Posting it on social media is meaningless in the negotiation.

[DrDawkinstein]

9 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

One day Cook is going to figure out that foundering on a team with little to no chance of playing meaningful games in December and January isn’t worth the extra cash. You only get one career. In the end, your accomplishments mean way more to you than the pay check.

 

lol, accomplishments dont pay rent, nor do they feed grandkids. As a RB, Cook has ONE opportunity at securing generational wealth. Anyone with a bit of investment knowledge knows an extra $1M today means $10M 20-30 years from now.

 

It's an absolutely ludicrous standard that jealous fans hold players to. For almost every one of the players in the NFL, it's a job.

 

How often did you take well below market rate to architect a building just for the sake of "accomplishment"?

 

edit to add:

 

James' older brother Dalvin's career is over. Feels like he's been around forever. He had a pretty decent career and was a good player in his day. But now he's done.... He's ONLY 29 YEARS OLD. For most of us old men on this board, we consider that having his entire life ahead of him still. But he's done making money.

 

It's a tiny window to make as much money as possible.

 

Edited 23 hours ago by DrDawkinstein

[JakeFrommStateFarm]

Cook is a very handsome guy

[Buffalo716]

21 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

lol, accomplishments dont pay rent, nor do they feed grandkids. As a RB, Cook has ONE opportunity at securing generational wealth. Anyone with a bit of investment knowledge knows an extra $1M today means $10M 20-30 years from now.

 

It's an absolutely ludicrous standard that jealous fans hold players to. For almost every one of the players in the NFL, it's a job.

 

How often did you take well below market rate to architect a building just for the sake of "accomplishment"?

 

edit to add:

 

James' older brother Dalvin's career is over. Feels like he's been around forever. He had a pretty decent career and was a good player in his day. But now he's done.... He's ONLY 29 YEARS OLD. For most of us old men on this board, we consider that having his entire life ahead of him still. But he's done making money.

 

It's a tiny window to make as much money as possible.

 

Absolutely everything you say is correct and it is a business 

 

He has also made almost 5 million in his career.. I can live the rest of my life on 5 million dollars I know how I live lol

 

Like sure he has one chance to chase a Payday but he's not poor

[SoonerBillsFan]

23 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

lol, accomplishments dont pay rent, nor do they feed grandkids. As a RB, Cook has ONE opportunity at securing generational wealth. Anyone with a bit of investment knowledge knows an extra $1M today means $10M 20-30 years from now.

 

It's an absolutely ludicrous standard that jealous fans hold players to. For almost every one of the players in the NFL, it's a job.

 

How often did you take well below market rate to architect a building just for the sake of "accomplishment"?

 

edit to add:

 

James' older brother Dalvin's career is over. Feels like he's been around forever. He had a pretty decent career and was a good player in his day. But now he's done.... He's ONLY 29 YEARS OLD. For most of us old men on this board, we consider that having his entire life ahead of him still. But he's done making money.

 

It's a tiny window to make as much money as possible.

 

No problem with him making money,but his demands are outrageous.  He is a 8-11 mill RB based on what he can do, but he wants 15 mill.  Let another team over pay him.

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, SoonerBillsFan said:

No problem with him making money,but his demands are outrageous.  He is a 8-11 mill RB based on what he can do, but he wants 15 mill.  Let another team over pay him.

 

If team(s) will pay it, and they will, it cant be that outrageous.

 

I understand Beane/Bills having their number and sticking to it as well. But neither side is out of line. They just disagree a little.

[Augie]

7 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

If team(s) will pay it, and they will, it cant be that outrageous.

 

I understand Beane/Bills having their number and sticking to it as well. But neither side is out of line. They just disagree a little.

 

 

….and by a little, we mean many million$. I hope they can close the gap to an acceptable level. We need guys who can score from anywhere. 

[DrDawkinstein]

2 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

 

….and by a little, we mean many million$. I hope they can close the gap to an acceptable level. We need guys who can score from anywhere. 

 

We dont know. Beane could be at $8M and Cook at $15M. Or Beane could be at $11M and Cook could be willing to do $12.5M

 

I can tell you it better NOT be a Pat Williams situation where we lost him over a difference of essentially NFL pocket change.

[BigAl2526]

On 3/31/2025 at 5:22 PM, Don Otreply said:

Yup, exactly what I stated in a thread yesterday, I as well suspect more noise from Cook will get him traded during the draft, jmo, 

 

Beane don’t play that she ite, 

Cook is very tradeable . . . except the other GM will need to accept having a player who wants to be overpaid and doesn't mind making noise.  

[H2o]

45 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

James' older brother Dalvin's career is over. Feels like he's been around forever. He had a pretty decent career and was a good player in his day. But now he's done.... He's ONLY 29 YEARS OLD. For most of us old men on this board, we consider that having his entire life ahead of him still. But he's done making money.

 

It's a tiny window to make as much money as possible.

And Dalvin made $41.3M in the NFL thus far. He should be good, if he didn't/doesn't blow all of his $$$.

 

Jimbo does have a small window to maximize his $$$. He's a good RB and has proven to be worthy of a raise. The Bills likely agree, but not at the amount he or his agent wants. The Bills have every right to not cave to his demands. 

 

This next point has been talked about ad nauseum, but I'm going to repeat it again. I think Beane's comments the other day in the presser, and the fact negotiations have been halted, paint a picture that they (in part) do not appreciate how this situation has been handled. Every single other big name, drafted by the Bills, player coming up on FA got a deal done. Everyone except for James Cook. 

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, H2o said:

And Dalvin made $41.3M in the NFL thus far. He should be good, if he didn't/doesn't blow all of his $$$.

 

Jimbo does have a small window to maximize his $$$. He's a good RB and has proven to be worthy of a raise. The Bills likely agree, but not at the amount he or his agent wants. The Bills have every right to not cave to his demands. 

 

This next point has been talked about ad nauseum, but I'm going to repeat it again. I think Beane's comments the other day in the presser, and the fact negotiations have been halted, paint a picture that they (in part) do not appreciate how this situation has been handled. Every single other big name, drafted by the Bills, player coming up on FA got a deal done. Everyone except for James Cook. 

 

And I think you are completely wrong with the bold. Correlation does not equal causation.

 

The reason he doesnt have an extension is because the 2 sides are still far apart in agreeing on a number. That is it. Nothing to do with social media.

 

If Benford wanted $25M, he wouldnt have a deal done either. Even with no social media posts.

 

If anyone thinks Beane is sabotaging negotiations with a star player, our 2nd best offensive weapon, and a guy he spent a 2nd round pick on, over MINIMAL social media posts, then yall just dont know business.

 

Cook typing 3 not-even-full-words of "15 mill year" had ZERO effect on the talks between Beane and the agent.

 

Cook posting 3 emojis in response to Barkley's contract news had ZERO effect on talks between Beane and the agent.

 

Beane, luckily, is not as dumb or emotional as fans. He would not sandbag the team over some petty pride crap like all us jealous fans think he would.

[H2o]

33 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

And I think you are completely wrong with the bold. Correlation does not equal causation.

 

The reason he doesnt have an extension is because the 2 sides are still far apart in agreeing on a number. That is it. Nothing to do with social media.

 

If Benford wanted $25M, he wouldnt have a deal done either. Even with no social media posts.

 

If anyone thinks Beane is sabotaging negotiations with a star player, our 2nd best offensive weapon, and a guy he spent a 2nd round pick on, over MINIMAL social media posts, then yall just dont know business.

 

Cook typing 3 not-even-full-words of "15 mill year" had ZERO effect on the talks between Beane and the agent.

 

Cook posting 3 emojis in response to Barkley's contract news had ZERO effect on talks between Beane and the agent.

 

Beane, luckily, is not as dumb or emotional as fans. He would not sandbag the team over some petty pride crap like all us jealous fans think he would.

 

We can agree to disagree, just like we have this entire time. That's fine. I believe the comments Beane made about his reps putting things out there, along with the rest of how things have been handled as a whole are not appreciated.

 

You keep acting like everyone who mentions things of the sort has some kind of lack of education, emotion, or jealousy behind it.  I really, REALLY, could care less whether a deal is done or it doesn't get done. Whether he's here, is traded, or walks as a FA. I don't care, my guy.  What I am speaking out of is general observation as to how everything else has played out, and my personal opinion on the reasons behind it. 

Edited 22 hours ago by H2o

[Billl]

9 hours ago, Homey D. Clown said:

How about an NFL rule change that states very clearly that if you hold out you get exactly $0.00 until you show up, and IF... you don't play 4 games or more, you're entire salary is suspended.  As a player you SIGNED the existing contract.  You AGREED to the terms.  The team should not have to be held hostage every time a player feels underpaid AS A MILLIONAIRE.

 

This ^^^^   is what's killing my love for the game today.

Those poor owners.  Why can’t the guy with a $7 billion net worth who is about to get $850 million of taxpayer money from a city/county with a median income of $30,000 while charging said taxpayers a PSL for the right to purchase tickets in the stadium they paid for catch a break?

[Mikie2times]

19 hours ago, US Egg said:

Regardless of what happens with Cook, Beane’s done a great job this off season.

We have cornered the market on the status quo. Depending on how you view the status quo depends on your view of the offseason. 

Edited 21 hours ago by Mikie2times

[bobobonators]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

Absolutely everything you say is correct and it is a business 

 

He has also made almost 5 million in his career.. I can live the rest of my life on 5 million dollars I know how I live lol

 

Like sure he has one chance to chase a Payday but he's not poor

after taxes/paying agents/etc he probably made $2m. 
 

even if he’s somewhat conservative (which he prob won’t be) he’ll be bone dry in ~10yrs with that $. 
 

if I was a player in my early 20s I wouldn’t feel comfortable until I netted ~$10m in the bank. $10m in the bank in early 20s and I wouldnt have to work again my entire life. And that’s me who doesn’t rock $100,000 jewelry.  So double it for an NFL player. They better net $20m in the bank before they retire.
 

Once you hit a certain lifestyle it’s hard to downgrade. Pride before the fall. That $2m house may be paid off. But taxes are $70k/yr on it. Money flies when no other income coming in. These players have one shot to secure their future. I don’t blame them. 

[Buffalo716]

1 minute ago, bobobonators said:

after taxes/paying agents/etc he probably made $2m. 
 

even if he’s somewhat conservative (which he prob won’t be) he’ll be bone dry in ~10yrs with that $. 
 

if I was a player in my early 20s I wouldn’t feel comfortable until I netted ~$10m in the bank. $10m in the bank in early 20s and I wouldnt have to work again my entire life. And that’s me who doesn’t rock $100,000 jewelry.  So double it for an NFL player. They better net $20m in the bank before they retire.
 

Once you hit a certain lifestyle it’s hard to downgrade. Pride before the fall. That $2m house may be paid off. But taxes are $70k/yr on it. Money flies when no other income coming in. These players have one shot to secure their future. I don’t blame them. 

No I absolutely understand all of that 

 

He's going to be accustomed to a certain lifestyle he's an NFL player.. and his shelf life is shorter than every position 

 

I fully get it